November Blog

Monday 26th. 10.00pm.
	The locals say it's quite "balmy" only minus 3 degrees? That I should come back in February they say? And everybody thinks I've got a great job? Ok, please may I go back to Italy and I promise I'll never wear a thong on the beach again And, I will buy a belt so I don't have to use my tie to hold my trousers up.
When we did finally get airborne (not in this aircraft as it's broken) climbed up into a jet stream at 25000 feet to pick up a tailwind of 125 kts (nearly 150mph). Normally jet streams are well above the operational ceiling of this type of aircraft. Flying “professionally” is they say made up of 95% boredom 4% terror (that’s the bit when you close your eyes) and 1% of pure enjoyment. This was one of those subliminal flights that makes it all worthwhile. Sunday 25th November. Somewhere near the artic circle!! Umea, northeastern coast of Sweden. It’s very nice here in the summer they tell me. At this time of year the sun just makes it over the horizon (if it’s not snowing) unfortunately I went for a leak and missed it! With time to kill and free Internet access I have been able to get down to some long overdue work on the web site, plus getting paperwork ready for the AGM. The draft of the constitution is finished subject to proof reading (a must after my last letter), that and the agenda will be on the website by midweek, and in the post for the weekend. Have had the usual conversations with Fast hosts (well my wife has) and the site seems to be working well, I have uploaded over 60 pictures in the last few days and if it doesn’t fall over when I publish this then it seems to be working for now. Saturday 17^th November. Great indoor session, fourteen “adults” (you have to use that word loosely), two juniors and countless visitors made this the best night yet. Need to tighten up on the safety, as there were a couple of near misses one involving a helicopter. Many new models including my last Bye Yak variant. Had spent afternoon with my son Rob trying to teach him how to take close up stills of moving models. Alas on the night he decided that he wants to be a Ridley Scott and not David Bailey. He did get some good video. I have to thank Phil H. for these photos; getting eight flying models in five pictures makes my efforts seem dismal. Phil has done quite a few video clips will paste up a link to them ASAP. Roll on Saturday 1st December.

Friday 16th November Ken M. brought out his Old Bill, this model last flew back in February (see February Blog) with an original Taplin Twin, unfortunately this motor suffered a internal failure. Not daunted Ken has built an exact copy, I suspect of far better quality than the original.
	This was it's first outing and it does run and fly very well, the first and only flight end when the engine stopped seeming to partially seize. However after it had cooled it freed off and ran again allowing me to get some pictures plus some video, Ken thinks the front bearing is picking up and will investigate further before further tests.


Sunday 4th November Misty morning cleared into a very good day with little if any wind. Great turn out; see pics with quite a mix of model types. The mist never far away rolled back in mid afternoon, not to be put of a few carried on flying, if you can fly indoors then keeping a model in close is not a problem.


Evening Saturday 3^rd November. Another good evening turnout slightly down on previous week. My faithfully old Extra 300 finally went to the great depron pile in the sky after failing to get hung up in the side netting and falling to earth. It will be replaced. Promised that I would try and get some close ups of small models in flight, well these are my attempts!! I had spent last weekend finally reading the instructions to my camera (only had it 18 months) didn’t seem to make much difference, will rope son into being camera man next time, he's studying art so it will only cost me a large pizza.


Afternoon Saturday 3rd November Standish Lane Having just got back from Budapest was going to get as much flying in this weekend as possible. To new members on field, Mark Ealey & Terry Wakfield. Mark had a Hanger 9, third scale Extra 300, It had a Zenoah 80 twin up front . Flew very well but said he was rusty with it as he only flew it very rarely. Nice to meet somebody who has the same problem with big models that I do, just not getting them out and fly them often enough.
	Paul then flew his Raptor the pictures don’t/can’t do it justice, must get video but I think you can get the plot from the pictures. I think this is a model he brings out and flies a lot.
Trevor? had an electric Spitfire again superb in flight, but can't remember details. Mental note to self "must get note book". I had a few flights with my Trex 450 but wear in the tail rotor servo made it very difficult to fly. On inspection the gear train is just worn out leading to lots of play which the gyro was fighting all the time.

Gloucester Model Flying Club